Senate panel approves new education funding formula

Sam JaneschCall Harrisburg Bureau

Senate panel approves new education funding formula for PA schools

HARRISBURG — A bipartisan effort to make Pennsylvania's schools more equitable took its first step to becoming law Tuesday when a Senate committee unanimously voted in favor of a new school funding formula.

The formula would distribute more state aid to poorer school districts and less to wealthier districts by evaluating several student- and district-based factors.

Pennsylvania has the largest disparity nationwide in spending between wealthy and poor districts. The new method would provide more funding for areas with students living in poverty and students who speak English as a second language. It also would take into account enrollment levels, median household income, geographic size, charter school costs and the ability to raise local taxes.

"I think all of us share the same desire to make sure every child in this commonwealth has an equal opportunity to be educated because it's in the interests not only of the child, but it's in the interests of every citizen in the commonwealth," State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, said.

The formula was recommended last week by the Basic Education Funding Commission, chaired by Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery. The commission's report did not suggest an actual amount of funding schools should receive under the new formula.

The Senate committee vote came a couple hours before hundreds of school advocates rallied at the Capitol for more money for public schools.

Sandra Miller, a 10-year member of the Saucon Valley School Board, said the formula will better serve students who have greater needs.

Miller said she came as a Lehigh Valley schools representative who has witnessed funding cuts in the Allentown and Bethlehem Area school districts.

"They need to find a way to fund schools and they need to make sure it's an equal opportunity for all children, not just where you live," Miller said at the Capitol rally. "It shouldn't be based on your zip code."

The formula was approved under Senate Bill 910 by state Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, and must be passed by the Legislature before being presented to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. However, with only a week before the state budget is due on June 30, Smucker said deciding whether to use the formula for the upcoming year will be part of overall budget discussions. Opinions differ, he said.

Wolf's proposed budget includes a $400 million increase for basic education through taxpayer money. He expressed his support for the formula last week.

When considering the implementation of the proposed formula, Smucker said the commission recommended applying it to all new money from the state to the schools.

Smucker said this way will be different from the current "hold harmless" law in which districts never receive less than they did the year before, despite enrollment level changes.

"The commission is saying freeze what we have now, and all new dollars moving forward will be run through the formula, so over time a greater and greater percentage of the basic education funding dollars will be driven out through this formula."

While support is widespread for the new distribution formula, it's still one "piece of the puzzle" in the push to restore education funding cut in the last four years, Pennsylvania State Education Association Vice President Jerry Oleksiak said at the rally hosted by the Campaign For Fair Education Funding.

The House Education Committee is also expected to approve the formula.

Sam Janesch is an intern with the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association.